NCAA men's national title game preview: What we love about the UConn-Purdue final

The men's NCAA Tournament title game, hosted at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, tips off on Monday at 9:20 p.m. ET on TBS. 

The two best teams in college basketball, the Connecticut Huskies and the Purdue Boilermakers have been on a collision course throughout the season and will finally meet in a matchup full of compelling storylines. 

With that in mind, here are eight intriguing storylines we love the most to follow for Monday’s heavyweight fight.

History on the line for UConn

Despite having as many titles as Duke and Indiana and one more than Kansas, UConn somehow still isn't considered a true blue blood. Perhaps capping off its seventh Final Four trip with the program's sixth national title will change the narrative, especially considering what this championship would represent for UConn. 

The Huskies aim to become the first back-to-back national champions since the Florida Gators in 2006 and 2007, which would make them the eighth program to accomplish such a feat. However, UConn is dominating its tournament opponents on a level we've never seen before, winning its last 11 games by double digits, an NCAA Tournament record.

Purdue also seeks history, but more importantly, redemption

While UConn is attempting to solidify itself as a blue blood and potential dynasty in the making, Purdue is hoping to just get on the board. Even though the Purdue men's basketball program has been around since 1896, the Boilermakers have never won a national championship. Monday's game is also just the second time Purdue has even been in the title game, the first coming in 1969, when they suffered a 20-point loss to UCLA. 

A national championship win is obviously significant for any program, but for this Purdue team in particular, it would complete a remarkable redemption arc after years of tournament heartbreak. Last season's Round of 64 loss to No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson, the biggest upset in tournament history, marked the third consecutive year Purdue lost to a 13-seed or higher. Fortunately for Purdue, the only other No. 1 seed to lose to a No. 16 seed went on to win the national championship the following year. 

UConn HC Dan Hurley’s attempting to join elite coaching company

Although he was narrowly beaten by Houston's Kelvin Sampson in the AP Coach of the Year voting, Hurley has not only proven that he's the best coach in college basketball, but that he's on an all-time great trajectory. 

Losing three starters to the NBA like UConn did this past offseason is enough to cripple most programs for years. Yet, this Huskies team looks better than last season's title-winning group, and has the metrics to prove it, ranking higher in both KenPom adjusted offense and defense — a testament to Hurley. While becoming the eighth head coach to win back-to-back titles would be a tremendous accomplishment for Hurley, he would probably be more excited to match his brother Bobby, who won consecutive national championships as Duke's starting point guard (1991-92). 

Purdue center Zach Edey’s chance to get the last laugh

If making the national title game wasn't enough to forever silence his doubters, Edey — the most polarizing figure in college basketball — will be able to do so with a win against the Huskies. The 7-foot-4 center has undoubtedly been the best player in this year's tournament, averaging 28 points and 15.4 rebounds per game while shooting 65.4% from the field. 

It's unclear how his game will translate to the NBA, but there's no denying that Edey is one of the greatest college players of all time and a championship will only further cement that reputation.

A literal big-time matchup 

If anyone is capable of slowing down the two-time National Player of the Year, it's UConn's 7-foot-2 sophomore Donovan Clingan. The 20-year-old center has excelled at both ends of the floor, averaging 16.2 points, nine rebounds and 3.6 blocks across five NCAA Tournament games. 

As per CBS Sports' Matt Norlander, Monday's contest will be the first matchup between two starting centers 7-foot-2 or taller in Final Four history. Additionally, it marks only the second national title game featuring two starting seven-footers, the other being Patrick Ewing versus Hakeem Olajuwon in 1984. 

Can Purdue snap the Big Ten curse? 

Rival Big Ten fans have been critical of Edey throughout his career, but should they be rooting for the Boilermakers to cut down the nets? Even though the Big Ten has sent seven teams to the national title game in the last 22 years, the conference hasn't produced a tournament winner since Michigan State in 2000. At this point in the postseason, conference unity might take precedence over wishing for a rival's downfall.

There's a path for Edey to still make history if UConn wins

According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Huskies are a 6.5-point favorite over the Boilermakers. If oddsmakers' prediction that UConn will win holds true, it'll be fascinating to see who will be named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

Among UConn players, Clingan looks to be the front-runner for the award, though if Edey has yet another stellar effort it wouldn't be unprecedented if he earned the honor despite losing the game. 

Throughout NCAA Tournament history, such an instance has occurred 11 times, most recently in 1983 (Olajuwon).

A cause for concern for Purdue HC Matt Painter?

As pointed out by NCAA.com's Mike Lopresti, playing UConn in Arizona didn't work out well for Painter in the past. In 2009, the season when Painter coached the Boilermakers to the Sweet 16 for the first time, UConn prevailed over Purdue, which was also the last time these teams faced off against one another in the NCAA Tournament. 

While this information might not prove to be a trend, it's worth noting that the Alabama Crimson Tide, who were eliminated by UConn on Saturday, also lost to the Huskies in Arizona during the 2004 NCAA Tournament.